a story from the swkt

It was a late night in the basement of the Spencer W. Kimball Tower, otherwise known as the SWKT. The sky had not been seen in over 8 hours and all students of Political Science 328 were on edge trying to get their assignment sent from Hades done. Keyboards were clicking away more than those Irish River Dances, formulas and equations were being yelled out randomly across the lab, and food was being snuck in like the place was a movie theater.

I was among them. Having finally completed a more difficult part of the assignment in which statistical equations were tediously entered into a Word document ps to the world: there's a reason it's a WORD document. words are supposed to go in it. not mumbo jumbo stats lingo. I moved on to start on the next part. That's when Microsoft Word decided to stop. I hadn't saved my work. I almost started crying.

But instead I said to myself, "Rachel, you are ok. You are not going to punch this computer because you are an adult and can control yourself. You are not going to cry because you. are. an. adult."

My corner of the room busted up in laughter. Apparently my pep talk hadn't been heard by only me.

Life points obtained through this experience: 3 ten piece chicken nugget meals



Other events from my life.

Super fun date to the Olympic Trials up in Park City.

#roadtosochi

While on said date we both consumed what is called the "Train Wreck." 

Yes it has a hamburger patty, friend chicken breast, onion rings, and bacon on it.

We got a nutella shake to go with it. Naturally.

^^^No worries. My date was man enough.^^^

^^^When you have to turn an assignment in before 8 am you sometimes wear this to campus.^^^

Yes this is my study partner.

Yes I am proud.

^^^My best friend slept over this weekend. It was a dream come true. For the boys in my ward.^^^

#winkyface

^^^And finally, who can resist such a cutie as this? One of the best nights this week.^^^

peace and toasted cinnamon raisin bagels

rrw

life's good.

Welcome to the post in which I talk about how good my life is. Yep. That's all I'm about to do so if you're hatin' on happiness right now, well...then...go watch The Fox and the Hound and just cry. Because that's all you can really do in that movie. Or you can stay here and revel in my life. Your choice is obvious, so just make sure to pop some popcorn and take a tissue box because when the words "when you're the best of friends" start being sung, you're going to need them.

Anyway. My life is great because I just ate two brown sugar cinnamon poptarts, which I got for free and are by far the best flavor of poptarts. I also woke up an hour late this morning but still managed to get a shower in and make it to class on time. that's right family. up, showered, and out in under 30 minutes. Plus I'm wearing poofy sleeves that I like to think make my muscles look "swoll." swole? swoul? i'm obviously not a man who goes to the gym. so...good news there! I ran into friends on campus, a cute boy said hi to me twice on separate occasions ok ok ok. i totally sat in the exact same spot where he walks but i mean that's alright and my phone battery lasted all day. I also got the most hilarious text from my little sister that totes made me lol right in the middle of my professor's long winded, jargon filled, intellectual rant about the weaknesses in the Progressivism ideas of reaching a perfect future and blah blah blah.

As a background, my sister is taking the same AP Literature course I took in high school from the same teacher I had. And I quoteth,

"Today in English Thackeray was asking all these questions about Our Mutual Friend and what the symbolism was for a character. I was the only one who knew all the answers every time because you had written them in book. I felt like Harry Potter using the Half Blood Prince's potion book."

I will grow up to be Professor Snape. Which is just one more reason to love my life.

oh hey sister. nice job on that jump.

love me some east millcreek.

peace and new socks
i submit that putting those on is one of the greatest feelings in the world
which, surprise surprise, was also part of my day today

rrw

for pity's sake

I have no idea what I'm going to say in this post but I've just spent 8 hours in the basement of the SWKT. There. That's what I wanted to say and wow that wasn't very difficult to get out was it? I guess I'm better at asking for pity than I thought I was. And here I've been, thinking I've had a small amount of pride. It's about time I stopped fooling myself. So here goes.

Pity me. Please. Pity me. When you run into me on campus, hug me. If you see me staring blankly at the Cool Whip section in the store, take my hand and guide me to a better place. If I'm laying face down on the floor somewhere, just leave me there. I'm probably better off. If I show up to a social gathering looking like a hobo and muttering STATA commands under my breath then I actually won't blame you for keeping a wide distance because that's really something that I'm hoping doesn't happen.

So. Like I said, I am now accepting pity (preferably in the form of ski passes) for what will be the worst and yet greatest semester of my college experience.
Cuz dang I've met some cool people.
But dang education is hard.

And now I have a question for you. If it is winter and you live in Utah and do not go see the ice castles in Midway, then is it really winter?
Either way, pictures.
Because family.

 typical spencer

such a great capture, if i do say so myself.

and i do.

Well cool. (literally...heh heh heh ah yikes)

peace and stats

rrw

idaho, provo, and cookies

Welp. I'm back in Provo. It's only been about 8 months since I've done school so like, no worries about that. Yesterday I attended what a fellow ward member and neighbor termed "Runway Sunday," which is the Sunday of first impressions. The rule is that you must look your best in order to attract those of the opposite gender, thus opening yourself up to dating opportunities for the remainder of the semester. It's a defining event with consequences that have the potential to influence your eternity, thus making it the most important day of the semester.

And I forgot to shower.

So we'll just put a big old "awesome blossom" stamp on that and start brainstorming things I'm going to do in the next 3 months other than date. I'm thinking African dancing because can you picture anything better than a Weiler trying to do that? Me either.

That's about all I have to say, so here are some pictures from the spontaneous Idaho tour my dad and I did last week. Oh, and one video because I mean...cookies.

And that's that. Eat some cookies. Or bring them to me. :)

peace and pepperidge farm
rrw

heels

Ohmygosh New Years was a blast. I have bruises on my feet because I decided to be brave and try heels at an all night dance party. But oh hey, let's give 500 life points to me because despite my footwear I didn't fall or roll my ankle once. While dancing. This is a big deal.

Also,  my little sister is having a party tonight with her friends. I swear, she has more friends in this house than I ever did in all of junior high and high school combined. But you know who I did and still do have?

My best friend.
Shoot dang did we have a riot on New Years.

It's amazing what determination, self timer, and a tripod can do for ya. Aka. I have dozens and dozens of these photos. And I love everyone of them.

peace and sparkling cider

rrw

dating guidelines. kinda.

Since I've already admitted to using and enjoying the social media dating application known as Tinder, I've decided to give a little inside advice about it, or at least the guidelines that I think all users should have to follow in order to use it. I mean, I've been on it for almost a week now so I'm completely qualified to do this. Yes, these are my personal views and/or opinions. And yes, they are right. So here you go.


A Guide Through Tinder: Get the Fire Started by Rachel Weiler
All observations come from a girl's first impressions of Tinder. Buckle up boys.

1. Dress to Impress.

You are strong. You like to lift. You have muscles. And that picture of you carrying a dead yak obviously tells me that you could carry me over the threshold of our home once we are married. I appreciate this. I appreciate this a lot. But I have yet to swipe right on a guy who is shirtless and flexing in more than one of his pictures. I'll allow one because I mean...it's nice sometimes.

2. Quality Matters.
If the first photo I see of you is grainy and dark, I swipe left without even thinking twice. But no matter what your interests or distance or little bio with a quote from a TV show I don't know says, if you have a high quality picture, I WILL stop and think twice. I'll probably click to see your other pictures as well. So leave the mirror selfie for when we're a couple and we go shopping together and you need me to see how ridiculous the tie die pants I picked out for you are and you don't want to come out of the changing room.

We all do it.

"Am I wearing booty shorts and a cupcake top?" mirror selfie.

3. It's who you know.
As the Spice Girls would say, "If you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends." Buddy, the more mutual friends we have, the better. In fact, that is my key deciding factor. In my head, the more friends we have in common, the less of a stranger you are and the less creepy it is for me to be talking with you/making plans to meet. "No, I'm not planning to go spend time with a complete stranger. I'm going to spend time with this guy who is friends with that one person I met in a gas station on my way to Canada three years ago. It's basically like we know each other already. #soulmates."

4. First Encounter
If we've matched, I'm waiting for you to message. Sorry. I just am. I mean, I've already given you the assurance that I think you're cute. So be brave. Sara Bereilles will be proud. Do it. Talk to me. I'm not as scary as everyone apparently thinks I am (which is a post for a different day) and will probably just end up rambling about how I smashed a raw egg on my head for Christmas. Maybe you saw it?

And yes, I did talk about this with a Tinder match. We aren't talking anymore.

5. Be Sharp, not Dull
I have been highly impressed with a few of the gentlemen who have struck up conversation with me on Tinder. When the response makes me laugh, I message back immediately. If the conversation starter is "Hey, *insert some sort of comment on my physical appearance*" I don't respond.

Sheesh. That came across cold. Maybe I'm scarier than I think I am.

6. It Stays Within Tinder
On the occasion that I come across someone I know outside of Tinder, I swipe left. There are a few arguments for and against this going around in my head, but if he hasn't asked you out in person already, and he's on Tinder, then there's probably not much use in it, right? Unless of course you just want to see if they'd respond the same way. Or you have previously agreed to swipe right for each other. Which, contrary to popular belief, is not pathetic and sad.


Well, there you have it. The foolproof and effective way of using Tinder. You know what's interesting? Most all of these guidelines can somehow apply to dating in real life. So you are welcome. I've just handed you the key to success in pursuing...me.

How wonderful for you.

peace and turtle necks
i. love. these. things.

rrw

confessions of...me.

You know those moments when you realize something about yourself that you really wish you hadn't realized because living in denial is better than accepting them? ...take a moment and go read that again. I mean, I have this mental image of who I am and I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty dang sophisticated, funny, and charismatic in my head. And then I realize who I actually am and my mental-me just goes "Ah Rach.....really?" Well, this week the real me had to respond to mental-me with an ashamed "Yeah. Really." Here are a few of those things that caused me to wonder at myself.

*I like Katy Perry. I do. I've resisted so hard for so long but honestly, I just can't help letting my inner lioness sing along when I hear "Roar" on the radio. And there's no way to not love "Unconditionally," especially when your dad suddenly makes it a song about your favorite type of hair product.

*I'm that person in the movie theater that laughs. Out loud. And gets the over the shoulder look from the people in front of her. I don't know when this started happening, but it just did. I swear it was just yesterday that I was a moody teenager who never wanted anyone to know she had emotions. Besides moody of course.

*I'm done being single. gasp. I know, I know. I had that whole "#singleforlife" hashtag thing going and it's kind of a taboo thing for someone to actually admit. Maybe it's just all of the Hallmark Channel movies about people being reunited with that person they've always loved during the most romantic time of the year. Or all the twinkle lights. I swear. Twinkle lights were invented to make you want to cuddle. I hate them. But I love them. Oh so much.

Anyway, what was I saying before I made twinkle lights my arch nemesis? Oh yeah. Taking a break from singlehood. Thus...

*I'm on Tinder. YOU GUYS. I'm on Tinder. I don't even know what to think about myself right now. And in all reality, I'm terrible at it. It is so stressful and I can't ever swipe either way without messaging my best friend (who got me into it in the first place) asking what the social protocol is. But dang, it's pretty fun. This is also my public apology for calling it "morally repugnant." My words can't get down my throat fast enough.

*I fought really hard at a white elephant gift exchange for this.

And then took way too many self timer pictures with it. These are 4 of...more than 4.

ps. to my future roommates. Is it ok if he moves in with me? He could be our mascot. Or protector. Or friend. I mean, once you see his chest you will understand. Promise. Ok. Thanks.

Yeah, that whole "let's not be single anymore" thing is just going to take off. I know it.

Well, I'm done voluntarily humiliating myself. How many times did you wince for me? Or blush and wish it were over? Probably not more than my mental-me. She's wondering why the heck I even put this post together. Dang it, I can't be as classy as you, ok!

And now I'm talking to myself. 

22 is going to be a good year.

Oh, and I also realized that I cannot wear tights without getting holes/runs in them. #stayclassyfolks

peace and birthday banners

no my birthday related posts will never end.

rrw